Combined hay and stock rack



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

B. N. AVERY. COMBINED HAY AND STOCK RACK.

- No 526,173. Patented Sept. 18,1894.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. N. AVERY.

COMBINED HAY AND STOCK RACK.

No. 526,173. Patented Sept. 18,1894.

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PATENT O F CE.

TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED HAY AND STOCK RACK.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 526,173, datedSeptember 13, 1894.

Application filed July 1 893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD N. AVERY, of. Tecumseh, county of Lenawee,and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin a Combined Hay and Stock Rack; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form partof thisspecification. p j

My invention relates to a combined hay and stock rack, and has for itsobject to simplify the construction and cheapen the manufacture by anovel arrangement of the parts, by which the elements are assembledtoform a hay rack, or adjusted for transporting stock.

A further object is to form of metal a combined brace and slide holder,and a co-. acting slide arm for attachment to the rack arms, whereby theside racks are firmly sustained in position when extended, and readilyfolded to form a stock rack, the slide and holder being of aconstruction to allow of dispensing with the usual brace upon the endrack arms.

The invention consists in the parts and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an end elevation of a complete rack. Fig. 2is a perspective view of a combined brace and, slide holder. Fig. 3 is afront elevation of a section of the wagon box, showing the brace andslide holder in position, and the brace and side rack in connectiontherewith. Fig. 4 is a detached View of the rack arm, brace, and slide,showing also the catch upon the end of the rack arm. Fig. 5 is a sectionof the box in front elevation, showing the side rack in raised positionto form a stock rack. Fig. 6 is a section of the end board showing theinclined block for sustaining the inner ends of the end rack arms. 1

, In constructing a convertible hay and stock rack it is desirable thatthe parts be of a character that the side racks may be convenientlyattached to the wagon box, raised to form a stock rack, lowered to forma hay rack, or readily removed from the box. In the conupon projection6.

Serial lilo. L (No model.)

struction described, I have accomplished these objects by means ofattachments to the box and rack arms that allows of a ready attachmentand removal, and at the same time reduces the cost to a minimum.

1 designates the Wagon box; 2, the transverse bars beneath the same forsupporting the bottom boards. In the ordinary construction of boxes,thereare straps secured to the side boards which extend through thetransverse bars 2 and have threaded ends upon which nuts are run, andbraces are employed, which extend from the ends of the bars 2 to thestraps.

3 designates a combined strap brace and slide holder, comprising ashell, rectangular in cross section,forming a chamberet throughout theentire length. Strap 3 is secured to the side of the wagon box by meansof bolts or rivets passed through right angled ears 5, and the box, anda threaded projection 6 integral with the base is passed throughaperforation in the transverse bar 2, and the bar is drawn to its placeby means of a nut 7 In order to thoroughly brace the side board of thebox, strap 3 is formed with a base 8, which projects beyond the shell,and rests upon the transverse bar 2, this base also serving as a restfor the brace of the rack arm. Strap 3 is formed with an openingextending from near the top of the front side to approximately midwayitslength, and from this point is slotted centrally to the base, and at thetop has a transverse rod 9 extending across the shell slightly above thesolid portion 10 of the front side.

11 designates the rack arms designed to be secured upon the box as shownin Fig. 5 to form a stock rack, and are equipped with a metal plate 12upon their inner ends for engagement with rod 9 of strap 3. Plate 12 isformed with a strap portion 13 for attachment to the rack arm, and anend portion 14 which projects beyond the end of the rack arm, having ahook 15 upon the upper side to engage rod 9, and a projection 16 uponthe lower side to engage the inner side of the solid portion 10 of thestrap, the hook 15 and projection 16 being so arranged that the portionof strap is drawn closely between the end of the rack arm and projection16, thereby closely assembling the parts, when extended to formahayrack, and an inclined projection 17 upon the upper side of the plateforces the projection against portion 10, when the side arms are invertical position to form a stock rack.

18 designates a brace pivotally connected with the rack arm, and havingon its lower end a metal slide 19, formed with a plate 20 for attachmentwith the brace, a web 21 to run in the slot in the strap, and a T head22 to bear against the inner side of the front of the strap, the head-22being of a length to admit of passing the same into the opening in theupper portion of the strap, when assembling the parts. Slide 19 isformed with a right angled portion 23, which contacts with the solidportion 10, should the rack arm be raised vertically, thereby preventingthe side rack from displacement by reason of the jolting of the wagonbox. I have provided means for dispensing with the strap, and brace uponone or both ends of the wagon box and rack if desired, thereby reducingthe cost to a minimum, in which event, if the straps and braces aredispensed with at both ends, I employ preferably two straps and bracesupon each side of the box, and secure upon the front and rear end boardsa V shaped block 24 preferably held from vertical displacement by a rod25 having a thread and nut upon one end and a head upon the oppositeend, and pass the rod through the bottom of the box, and through theblock, and secure the block to the end board by bolts or rivets 26. Inthus constructing the rack, the rack boards 27 are secured upon theunder side of the end rack arms in order to allow for the thickness ofthe side boards of the box, when the side racks are elevated, the boards27 being upon the upper side of the intermediate rack arms.

In order to hold the end rack arms from displacement from block 24,1form holes upon the under side of the block, and secure dowels 28 in theupper side of the rack arms, which enter the holes in the block. Inoperation, to assemble the parts, the slide 19 is passed through theopening in strap 3, and the web run into the slot. End 14 of the plate12 is passed beneath rod 9, and the hook 15 engages therewith, bringingprojection 16 against the portion 10 of strap 3, when the slide passesdownward into the chamber of strap 3, until the end of the brace restsupon plate 8, and

the end rack arms bear upon block 24: with the dowels enteringthe holestherein, and the racks are firmly supported.

To form a stock rack, it is only necessary to lift uponthe under side ofthe side racks, and the rack arms swing upon the brace pivot untilvertical, the slide 19 riding up the inner side of the strap, and theend 14 of the strap passes down between the bolt and portion 10 of thestrap, until projection 16 contacts with portion 10. The side racks areheld in position when elevated by a rod 29, or in any other preferredmanner, as the tension thereon causes the head 22 of the slide to bearagainst the inner side of the strap, thereby holding the racks firmly.

It will be seen that the metal parts are inexpensive of construction,that the adjustment of the racks to the box is easily accomplished, andthat change from hay to stock rack is but the work of a moment.

What I claim is- 1 In a convertiblehay and stock rack, the wagon body,castings secured thereto having a longitudinal chamber, an openingthereto and a slot communicating with the opening, removable rack armshaving hooks upon the inner ends for engagement with the casting, and abrace pivotally secured to the same having a T head upon the lower endof a size to pass through the opening in the strap,

a longitudinal chamber, an opening in the front side of the casting anda communicating slot, said opening extending to near the top of thecasting havinga cross piece at the top, a pin extending across the topof the casting from side to side, rack arms having ends which extendbetween the cross piece, and pin having a depending projection forengagement with the cross piece and a hook for engagement with the pin,whereby the cross piece is held to the casting, braces pivotally securedto the rack arms, the lower ends of which are provided with T heads of asize to pass through the opening, anda web to pass in the slot.

3. In a convertible hay and stock rack, a wagon body having crosspieces, castings having a longitudinal chamber and a foot upon the lowerend of the same, ears upon thesides of the casting through which and thebody pass bolts to secure the same to the wagon body, and an integralthreaded projection upon the lower side of the foot extending throughthe cross piece, having a nut secured thereon whereby the casting issecured to the body, and the body and cross pieces are held in rigidassembled positions, and a rack secured to the casting.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWVARD N. AVERY.

Witnesses:

WALTER P. BURRIDGE, CHARLES BURRIDGE.

IIO

